Her Husband’s Lover by Madelynne Ellis Page B

that, a kiss is generally what’s on her mind.’
    Emma’s breath sat heavy in her chest. It took her a moment to realise she was holding it.
    ‘I’m sorry I so misread you,’ he apologised. ‘Clearly you were only vexed over my acquaintance with your husband, and you were staring daggers not flames.’
    Heat suffused Emma’s chest. The prickle of embarrassment ran up her throat and into her cheeks. She knew he didn’t believe that, not considering the way his eyes lingered on her mouth, and his lips parted invitingly. Fiend, she wanted to brand him. He had to have been sent by the devil to torment her, as if she hadn’t experienced torment enough already.
    Darleston angled his body a little closer, so that he stood inclined towards her. Emma curled her fingers into the upholstery of the window seat. Being close to him was dangerous. He knew she didn’t want to be touched. Lyle would have told him how she was. Yet to escape she’d have to brush against him.
    He knowingly had her pinned.
    ‘I understand you wish for some entertainment tonight.’
    Emma lifted her head. Surely he couldn’t mean … Why, yes – yes, he did. He’d been with Lyle all day; it made sense that they’d have discussed the matter. She just couldn’t believe he would bring it up in a room full of people. ‘Some entertainment would be pleasant, but I don’t wish to put you out.’
    Darleston cocked his head again, so that a strand of coppery hair fell across his face. His lips parted slowly, but his words were lost as Amelia’s voice ran out over the dogs and conversations. ‘Entertainment,’ she squealed, having hearing as sharp as a hare’s. ‘What do you propose, Lord Darleston? Do you play the pianoforte, or should we partner up to play whist?’ Her oval face lit with glee at the hope of music and games after dinner.
    ‘Sardines,’ Aiken called.
    Amelia immediately clapped her hands and gazed hopefully at Darleston. Emma’s nerves literally sang. She couldn’t play such a game and Amelia knew it. Actually, they all knew it. Darleston pursed his lips, while Amelia jigged up and down, impatient for an answer. Thankfully, her father vetoed the proposal with a swift shake of his head.
    ‘Oh, Father …’
    While Amelia protested, Emma’s heart filled with relief. ‘Charades,’ someone else suggested and the game was agreed upon.
    Emma made to rise, but Darleston refused to move. ‘I know you didn’t mean us to play charades, Mrs Langley, but shall we humour them for a while? I think there’ll still be time to entertain you in the fashion you desire. I always find my passions run hottest after midnight.’
    She met his gaze warily, afraid she would find mockery dancing there, but his expression was quietly serious. ‘Shall we say: until then?’ He lifted his brows again, and then turned away. ‘Hill, how goes the training? What day is the fight set for?’ He disappeared into the study with her father.
    * * *
    ‘We should play charades every night while they are here,’ Amelia announced as she and Emma made their way up the stairs to bed, each carrying a candle. The soft light of the flames cast a bronze glow on her sister’s face as Emma turned towards her. While she enjoyed seeing Amelia’s gaiety, she didn’t share her enthusiasm for mime.
    ‘You wouldn’t enjoy it so much if that were the case,’ Emma responded, exercising some tact. No point in dampening Amelia’s spirits, even if her own were quite bewildered by what was going on around her. Darleston’s parting words to her still echoed inside her head.
    ‘Oh, but I do like charades and how it brings out quite a different side to the gentlemen. Don’t you find they’re not quite so stuffy? Well, aside from Lord Darleston. Did you notice he didn’t join in? He just sat and watched the entire evening.’
    ‘Well, perhaps he doesn’t care for the game.’
    ‘I don’t know why he’s here. Do you, Emma? I mean, he’s just not as interested in